Rifle target



Aug. 6, 1929.

M. D. VAN Au KEN RIFLE TARGET Filed Jan. 31, 1928 N MMMMMm-Ei s E. .ilnEQ llE? IN VEN TOR.

patented fling. 6, 192? MABWOOID D. VAN AUKEN, F NEXV YORK, N. Y.

RIFLE TARGET,

Application filed January 31, 1928.

' This invention relates to rifle targets, and particularly to that class in which the target proper is provided with an automaticallyop- I erative magazine for frangible and successivcly fed target centers and with unobtrusi've seats for holding such centers individually .in concentric position relative to the target.

The main object of my invention is to provi de a target of the character with an auto matically replaced center, commonly called bulls eye, which will be readily shot to pieces by even a good buck shot in such manner that the resulting fragments of the frac tured center will immediately be shed by the target and permit a whole and new center to fall into position.

Another object is to provide a target of this nature with a vertically arranged magazine or chute for the successive centers, and to further introduce a resiliently held hammer in the center of the target to receive the impact of the shot and then strike a hell or produce a signal indicating a perfect shot.

Other objects and the novel advantages ac cruing from the combination of novel and useful features comprising my invention will appear hereinafter as this specification proceeds.

in the accompanyii'ig drawing forming part here0f,-

.Iiig. 1. is a front View of a target made according to my invention and embodying the same. i

Big. 2 is a fragmentary view of the same, in which a shot is included with a fractured target center at the moment of impact of the bullet.

Fig. 3 is a verticat section in part of the device of Fig. l, the upper part being a simpl e side view of the same.

4 is a group of target centers in several positlons.

Throughout the views, the same reference numerals indicate the same or duplicate parts.

in rilie practise, it is almost universally the custom to use a target of some nature for improving marksmanship, but, as a rule, there is no interesting incentive, aside from the actual shooting which will urge prospective marksnien to continue in their practice until great proficiency is attained. In order to provide additional interest and more ob viresiliently supported Serial No. 250,896.

ous competition between members ofsuch a group of marksmen, and a distinct. novelty, as well, it is herewith proposed to have a tar get plate l provided with a frangible center or bulls eye 2 which is norn'ially supported in position bya pair of pins it, 4. On the target is secured a chute or magazine consisting of the front wall 5, rear wall 6 and side walls and 16, the lower end of the front wall terminating in a lip 5 which assists in retaining the center disk 2 in position.

The disks are made of very frangible material such as dry baked clay, plaster of Paris or other readily fractured compositions, even glass. The center disks are fed in at the top .18 of the magazine, the lowest disk being drawn down by gravity to rest on the pins e, i already mentioned, when the same disk is in position for a shot. When a bullet strikes as at 13 in Fig. 2, itwill instantly shatter the disk into a number of fragments as at 14, l i, while the impact of the bullet will be re cei ved by a plunger or hammer 7 located immediately behindthe disk. This hammer is by a spring 8 which is fast to the target. Then, again, a bell 1O is secured upon a rear bracket 9 in such a posi tion as to be directly struck by the hammer T when a bullet impinges on the hann'ner, whereby an audible signal will be had.

011 the other hand, the disks may be com. posed of such a mixture as to produce light when shattered, steel filings and sand with a small amount of gunpowder or other explo; sives may be'incorporated with the plaster or clay, the purpose being to create an interesting novel effect when making a good shot.

The target as a whole may be stood. on a lower bracket 17, or it may be hung up by the aperture 12 in an upper bracket 11.

ft is manifest that when a disk has been smashed by the impact of a bullet the series of disks above in the magazine will drop with the next disk which will in'lniediately fall into position on the target pins. And among the disks may be fed in at intervals variously colored disks, the preferred color of the regular disks being white for visibility at great distances.

Modifications of my invention may, of course be made, such as disposing the disk magazine horizontally or even inverting the same and then forcing the disks into position by means of a spring instead of gravity, or a 1. A target including a target-plate having a frangible centre supported in such manner as to be shed over the face of the target when fractured by the impact of a bullet, a magazine of duplicate frangible centres automatically feeding a new centre to the position of support on theface of the target, and covering on the entire face of the magazine to protect the frangil'ile centres against impact of a bullet 2. A target includin a target plate having a magazine for successively fed target centers, means on the plate to individually support one disk on the front of the target plate in central position until shattered and the fragments freely "shed across the face'of the target by the impact of a bullet and protec- Live means on the face of the magazine to prevent in'ipingeinentof a'bulletwith any of the target vcentresexcept the singledisc that has reached the position of support in the centre of the target.

35 A target including a'target plate having means thereon to support a replaceable target center "on the front orfzice of the target, a frangible target center for said target plate registering'with said su porting means when whole in a manner whereby when shattered the fragments are free to fly radially across the front of the target plate, a magazine to feed the frangible target centre from a point remote from the target-plate and protective means for the front of the magazine whereby impingement of the bullet is presented to assure non-shattering of thefrangible centre throughout its feed until reaching its position of supper-tin the centre of the target.

4. An automatically fed breakable-bulls eye target'harin g means to automatically replace each brokenbulls eye on the front of the target, supporting means for each run brokenbulls-eye permitting radial flight or shedding upon fragmentation across the front of the target and means to protect the breakable bulls-eye targets throughout the course of their automatic feed.

5. A target means to feed automatically fragile discs to the centre of the target front or face, a plurality of fragile discs, means for supporting each disc before shattering in a manner whereby a bullet impact will splash the fragments across the face of the target and means to protect the fragile disc throughout the automatic feci'ling of the discs.

6. A magazine bulls-eyc target liming :in automatic feed for breakable hul is-ere (llfls. a series of different colored discs adapted lo be fed to the centre of the target, means for supportofeach disc as centered whereby upon shattering by bullet impact the fragments are free to splash across the face of the target, and a different colored disc thereupon automatically fed to the front of the target centre.

7. A target for small arms use, comprising a target face, means to support surccssirc discs to represent the bulls-cye oi the in rgcl, a plurality of discs adapted to rest in said supporting means and each containing in said disc a light producing material when the disc is shattered, said supporting means permitting'the shattering of the disc over the face of the target.

'8. A practice target for small arms, comprising a 'lrangi'ble disc containing a mixt ure explosive upon impact of a bullet, means to support said disc before impact centrally on the face of a target and permit its shattering visible from the front of the target.

9. A. practice target for small arms, comprising a frai'igible disc permitting light and smoke upon impact of a bullet, means to support said disc before in'ipact centrally on the face of a target and permit its shattering visible from the front of the target.

In testimony whereof, I, MAnwoon D. VAN AUKEN, have signed my name to this specification.

MARWOOD D. VAN AUKEN. 

